Juventus legend Franco Causio has advised the club to retain the services of winger Tiago Djaló, commonly known as Conceicao, despite reported interest from the Premier League. In an interview with Tuttosport, the former Italy international expressed his belief that the Portuguese talent should continue his development in Turin rather than seek a move abroad. Causio's comments come amid a wider discussion on the state of Italian football and Juventus's transfer strategy.
Causio, a celebrated winger himself, praised Conceicao's exceptional qualities and the clear improvement he has shown under the guidance of manager Luciano Spalletti. He stated that if he were in the player's position, he would resist the allure of the English top flight. "Fossi nel portoghese non cederei alle sirene della Premier League, pur capendone il fascino, e resterei ancora a Torino dove si sta molto bene," Causio was quoted as saying. He added that there is no better club than Juventus for Conceicao to continue his progress.
The 74-year-old also discussed the future of another young Juventus attacker, Kenan Yildiz. Causio urged for patience with the Turkish international, describing him as strong and possessing the qualities to make a difference, but needing time to grow. He expressed confidence that under Spalletti, Yildiz could come close to reaching the level of wingers like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Michael Olise. However, Causio was less convinced by the potential of another wide player, saying he would not bet on the future of Kosovan winger Edon Zhegrova, whom he described as too similar to but less effective than the other options.
Shifting focus to the defensive side, Causio offered his assessment of Andrea Cambiaso's season. He acknowledged that the wing-back may have lacked something this year but emphasized that he remains an important and intelligent player for Juventus's future. Causio pointed to interest from Manchester City's Pep Guardiola as proof of Cambiaso's potential, while noting the player must work on lapses in concentration during matches.
Regarding potential defensive reinforcements, Causio named Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies as a left-back who had impressed him, describing the Canadian as "more than a full-back, he's a train." He also praised Atalanta's rising Italian talents, specifically mentioning Matteo Ruggeri and mentioning the club's successful model of developing and selling players. On Juventus's broader prospects, Causio was unequivocal about their Champions League qualification under Spalletti but suggested the squad would need three experienced international-level reinforcements to compete for a Serie A title, while acknowledging a significant gap to Europe's elite clubs like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
